Jayne Bryant: 'The nurses have probably had the toughest time throughout this pandemic. Or, more correctly, the healthcare professionals doing the usual jobs of ITU nurses. For even if we can find more bed space, buy more ventilators, more drug pumps, we still can't buy more of the thing that sick ITU patients need the most, an ITU nurse. We have had to adapt and overcome to fill the potential gap in...
Jayne Bryant: I believe that some staff are genuinely scared to go to work. Moral injury is certainly a risk and not being able to respond as quickly as they would like to patients or to hand over patients to hospital staff is having a toll on both our crews and call handlers and dispatchers. They feel that they're not doing their job. The increases in staff who are having to self-isolate or unwell or with...
Jayne Bryant: 1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of how Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has dealt with COVID-19? OQ56202
Jayne Bryant: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. This winter has been one of the hardest periods anyone can remember for our NHS. Staff numbers have been hit hard, patient numbers have been high, and the pressure and stresses on our front-line staff have been immense. Despite all of this, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board have put in place a mass vaccination programme that is accelerating at...
Jayne Bryant: 2. What support is the Welsh Government providing to the voluntary sector in Wales? OQ56239
Jayne Bryant: Thank you, Deputy Minister, for that answer. Voluntary groups and charities do exceptional work to support some of the most vulnerable in our society. One such group is the Sparkle Appeal, which supports children, young people and their families with disabilities and developmental difficulties, at the Serennu centre in Newport. Their work is crucial. However, they themselves have had an...
Jayne Bryant: 5. What is the Welsh Government doing to encourage more women and girls to study and follow careers in science, technology, engineering and maths? OQ56339
Jayne Bryant: Thank you, First Minister. Throughout the pandemic, we've seen some remarkable work and achievements of scientists and engineers. From producing vaccines in record time to testing systems, identifying new variants, producing data analysis and the development of new medicines and protective equipment, the pandemic has highlighted the vital role of STEM. Amongst those achievements have been...
Jayne Bryant: 1. How is the Welsh Government supporting paramedics and the Welsh Ambulance Service? OQ56334
Jayne Bryant: Thank you for that answer, Minister. This last year has been an incredibly hard time for everyone at the Welsh ambulance service, from the paramedics who've been on the front line to the dedicated staff in the control rooms and those staff who support the service. Sadly, we saw earlier this month that the Welsh ambulance service lost a fourth member of staff to coronavirus: Kevin Hughes,...
Jayne Bryant: 3. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support the mental health of the NHS and social care workforce during the pandemic? OQ56313
Jayne Bryant: Thank you very much for that answer, Minister. Last month, I was able to hold a short debate to highlight the pressure on our front-line NHS and social care staff and what they've experienced over the last year. I was privileged to read out some powerful and emotive statements from nurses, theatre assistants, paramedics and practitioners about the realities of facing the virus. Staff are...
Jayne Bryant: 7. What economic support has the Welsh Government given to Newport city centre during the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ56372
Jayne Bryant: Thank you for that answer, Minister. Over the last few months, we have heard of big high street brands going into administration across the UK, and the restrictions, social distancing and working from home have had a huge impact on our city centres. The pandemic has already hit our struggling city centres hard, and it will permanently change how we see them. We have to think differently about...
Jayne Bryant: 1. What plans does the Welsh Government have to combat fly-tipping in Newport West? OQ56410
Jayne Bryant: Thank you for that answer, Minister. I know you will be aware that I've raised the serious situation with fly-tipping in the Marshfield and Duffryn areas of my constituency on many occasions. The infamous 'road to nowhere' is a hotspot for it on an industrial scale—hundreds of tonnes of rubbish stretches as far as the eye can see, and it recently featured on the BBC's Panorama programme...
Jayne Bryant: Can I thank my colleague Jenny Rathbone for bringing this issue to the Senedd today? I think it clearly shows the importance of the issue and reaffirms that type 2 diabetes is a very serious problem across Wales. We know that type 2 diabetes impacts a startling number of families here in Wales. According to data published in 2019 by Diabetes UK, over 8 per cent of people aged 17 and over live...
Jayne Bryant: 2. What are the implications of the Welsh Government's 2021-22 final budget for Newport West? OQ56464
Jayne Bryant: Thank you for that answer, Minister. It's an incredibly challenging year, and it's good to see that Welsh Government have recognised the significant pressures on local government and, specifically, Newport City Council receiving the largest settlement in Wales. As a vice-president of the Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge, I'm genuinely delighted at today's announcement that Welsh...
Jayne Bryant: 1. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support the mental wellbeing of teachers? OQ56460